All-weather parasol

ABSTRACT

A parasol has a mast whose upper end rotatably mounts a metal hub formed with a plurality of radially outwardly open sockets. A metal rod received in each socket is also received in a similar socket on a spatulate petal-like synthetic-resin member which extends away from the socket and is angularly spaced from the flanking members. A synthetic-resin disk overlies the inner ends of the petal members and the hub and is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending threaded studs which each pass through holes through the inside ends of two adjacent members. The outer ends of the petal members are twisted like airfoils so that a breeze passing through the parasol rotates its upper portion on the mast.

United States Patent 1191 Cognet [451 Jan. 21, 1975 ALL-WEATHER PARASOL [22] Filed: May 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 362,015

Primary Examinerl. Karl Bell Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl F. Ross; Herbert Dubno [57] ABSTRACT A parasol has a mast whose upper and rotatably mounts a metal hub formed with a plurality of radially outwardly open sockets. A metal rod received in each socket is also received in a similar socket on a spatulate petal-like synthetic-resin member which extends away from the socket and is angularly spaced from the flanking members. A synthetic-resin disk overlies the inner ends of the petal members and the hub and is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending threaded studs which each pass through holes through the inside ends of two adjacent members. The outer ends of the petal members are twisted like airfoils so that a breeze passing through the parasol rotates its upper portion on the mast.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ALL-WEATHER PARASOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a parasol.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A parasol is usually made in such the same manner as a standard rain umbrella, with a concave canopy of textile or the like stretched over a plurality of stiff ribs extending radially from a central supporting mast or rod. In order to give the maximum possible shade the ribs are made to stand as close as possible to a plane or thogonal to the axis of the support rod or shaft.

The primary objection to such parasols is that they must be put away or at least folded down whenever it rains or whenever there is wind. This is due to the nature of the flexible sheet material, be it tinted polyethylene foil or canvas, which constitutes the canopy, since such materials are not highly weather resistant. In addition the closed nature of the parasol makes it a trap for wind, so that it is easily blown away.

In addition the nature of the known parasols is such that they create a region of complete shade underneath, so that a person sitting in the shaded region often will strain his eyes when reading or when involved in a similar activity. Furthermore such known parasols trap a body of hot air which makes a person sitting underneath uncomfortable, exactly contrary to the desired effect.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved parasol.

Another object is the provision of such a parasol which is inexpensive to manufacture and which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are attained according to the present invention in a parasol having a central support hub adapted to be rotatably carried on the upper end of a mast, a plurality of petal-like flat members extending generally radially from the support, and a central disk overlying the hub and the inner ends of the petal members. These members are stiff and elongated and spaced angularly from each other so that air can pass between them.

According to other features of this invention each petal is elongated and formed with a longitudinal socket receiving a respective metal rod fixed to and extending radially from the hub. The disk is provided with a plurality of downwardly extending fingers which pass between radial extensions of the hub.

In accordance with further features of the present invention each petal member is formed at its end toward the hub with a pair of angularly spaced holes. The disk is provided with studs that engage through these holes so that the petals can be screwed tight to the disk by means of nuts. Each stud passes through a hole in one petal member and the adjoining hole in the adjacent member, so that as many studs as petal members are provided.

According to yet another feature of this invention the hub is rotatable relative to the support mast, and each petal member has an outer member twisted at an angle relative to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the hub on the mat. In this manner a weak current of air or even a simple convection current is enough to rotate the top of the parasol on the mast, thereby creating a pleasing effect and simultaneously ensuring good passage of air. The amount of sunlight filtered through such a spinning parasol is therefore evenly distributed. Should a very strong gust of wind strike the parasol, it will merely spin with increased speed and, if the wind force is quite strong, the petal elements will simply bend somewhat, thereby increasing the size of the space between them and/or decreasing their wind resistance.

Such a parasol can be left outside in any weather, since the synthetic-resin exposed parts are very durable. The parasol will not trap a body of hot air, but will allow a free passage of air underneath itself for maximum comfort of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view partly in section of a parasol according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sections along lines II II and III III, respectively, of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the petal members of the parasol of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of another arrangement according to this invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As shown in FIG. 1 a parasol has a mast or upright post 2 secured to a stanchion 3 having a lock screw 3a engaging the mast. The upper portion 2a of the mast is bent relative to the rest of the mast and is provided with a one-piece metal hub 4 formed with twelve angularly equispaced radially directed sockets 8. Twelve coplanar metal rods or spines 9 are each received in one of the sockets 8 and are in turn each received in an elongated socket 10 formed in a polyethylene petal member 5 of elongated flat spatulate shape. These elements 5 are therefore arrayed like petals of a daisy, giving the parasol a very attractive appearance.

Each petal element is formed at its inner end with two angularly spaced holes 12. A flat polyethylene disk 6 is provided with twelve equispaced studs 14 that extend through these holes 12. The holes 12 of adjacent petals 5 are made to overlap for more secure fastening. In addition the disk 6 is formed within the circular array of studs 12 with another circular array of angularly equispaced fingers 13 which engage between the projections 9 to make the assembly rigid.

Each spatulate member 5 is as shown in FIG. 4 twisted at at its outer end 5a somewhat like an airfoil. In addition the hub 4 is provided with a stepped downwardly extending pin 7 receivable within the tubular upper end 2a of the mast 2. This pin 7 is downwardly tapered and is formed with a circumferential groove which is engated by a leaf spring 11. Thus it is possible for the entire upper portion of the parasol to rotate about an axis A of the upper mast section 2a. In addition the blades or petals 5 are spaced angularly apart by distances e which allow a limited amount of sunlight to filter down through the parasol while permitting the wind to pass between these petals 5 unimpeded. The

space e is about one-tenth as wide as the members at their widest region.

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement wherein a stanchion 3' supports a pair of masts 2 each carrying a respective array of petals 5'. These petals 5' however do not lie all substantially in the same plane P orthogonal to axis A, but are arrayed one up, one down, to either side of a central plane. In addition they are spaced around their axes A irregularly, for a different flower effect.

Such parasols are extremely weather-resistant, and at the same time quite practical. The addition of a table 16 secured by a clamp screw 16a and of an insulated polyethylene-foam beverage holder 17 makes the parasol into a beach umbrella or cafe-type table. The polyethylene petals 5 and disk 6 can be wetted with absolutely no damage to them, and they can easily be brightly colored or employed to carry advertising. Gusts of wind will merely rotate the parasol top about the axis A or will deflect the blades 5 somewhat, the chance of the assembly blowing away being almost completely ruled out.

1 claim:

1. A parasol comprising:

an upright mast defining an axis;

a hub rotatably carried atop said mast;

a planar array of radial rods secured to said hub;

a plurality of like flexible elongated, angularly separated synthetic-resin flat spatulate petal-shaped members individually fixed to respective ones of said rods and angularly arrayed around said hub, each of said members having a radially inner end secured to said hub and longitudinal edges spaced from the corresponding edges of neighboring members on either side thereof, said rods terminating short of the outer ends of said members and lying centrally thereof; and

a synthetic-resin disk overlying said inner ends and said hub.

2. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said members lie generally in a plane orthogonal to the axis of said mast.

3. The parasol defined in claim 2 wherein said members have outer ends twisted relative to said plane, whereby wind passing through said parasol rotates said hub, disk, and members relative to said mast.

4. The parasol defined in claim 3 wherein said means is a pin extending axially from said hub, said mast being tubular and having an upper end rotatably receiving said pin.

5. The parasol defined in claim 4 wherein said pin is formed with a circumferential groove, said parasol further comprising spring means on said mast engageable in said groove for preventing axial displacement of said pin in said mast while permitting rotation therebetween.

6. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said hub is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly open sockets, each of said members being formed with an inwardly open socket, said rods each having one end received in in one of said sockets of said hub and another end received in a socket of a respective member.

7. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein each of said members has an inner end formed with a pair of angularly spaced holes, said disk being provided with a circular array of angularly spaced screw means each engaging through one of said holes in a respective one of said members and one of said holes in the immediately adjacent member for retaining said members in a petal-like array.

8. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said hub is metallic.

9. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said mast has an upper portion defining said axis and a lower portion integral therewith and defining a second axis intersecting the first-mentioned axis.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,861,il0 DATED 21 January 1975 |NVENTOR(S) Guy Henri COGNET it is certified that error appears in the above-identitied patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown beiow:

In the heading, after line 7 insert:

- [597 Foreign Application Priority Data 24 May 1972 FRANCE 72 19605 Signed and Scaled this twenty-ninth D3) Of July 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer ('ummissiuncr uflulents and Trademarks 

1. A parasol comprising: an upright mast defining an axis; a hub rotatably carried atop said mast; a planar array of radial rods secured to said hub; a plurality of like flexible elongated, angularly separated synthetic-resin flat spatulate petal-shaped members individually fixed to respective ones of said rods and angularly arrayed around said hub, each of said members having a radially inner end secured to said hub and longitudinal edges spaced from the corresponding edges of neighboring members on either side thereof, said rods terminating short of the outer ends of said members and lying centrally thereof; and a synthetic-resin disk overlying said inner ends and said hub.
 2. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said members lie generally in a plane orthogonal to the axis of said mast.
 3. The parasol defined in claim 2 wherein said members have outer ends twisted relative to said plane, whereby wind passing through said parasol rotates said hub, disk, and members relative to said mast.
 4. The parasol defined in claim 3 wherein said means is a pin extending axially from said hub, said mast being tubular and having an upper end rotatably receiving said pin.
 5. The parasol defined in claim 4 wherein said pin is formed with a circumferential groove, said parasol further comprising spring means on said mast engageable in said groove for preventing axial displacement of said pin in said mast while permitting rotation therebetween.
 6. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said hub is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced outwardly open sockets, each of said members being formed with an inwardly open socket, said rods each having one end received in in one of said sockets of said hub and another end received in a socket of a respective member.
 7. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein each of said members has an inner end formed with a pair of angularly spaced holes, said disk being provided with a circular array of angularly spaced screw means each engaging through one of said holes in a respective one of said members and one of said holes in the immediately adjacent member for retaining said members in a petal-like array.
 8. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said hub is metallic.
 9. The parasol defined in claim 1 wherein said mast has an upper portion defining said axis and a lower portion integral therewith and defining a second axis intersecting the first-mentioned axis. 